I'm a little confused. (some clarification if possible)

[Dreamtoownahome]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. (YES) I am going to take the class. However, before I go and spend $$$ on the class, I was wondering if I could get some (Pre-Clarification) about some things that have come up. In a thread I read, it said someone had or could build a log cabin home for 7,500.00 Yes, I also understand the search for the best deal on supplies and what not. The question is: Won't I still have to pay for the land I'm going to build on in the form of a bank note? Obviously the answer is: Yes. So if I buy a 3.0 acre lot fo approx 60k to 65k, yes that's the going price for where I want to live - (up in the mountains) Linden, VA. So the land is 60k on a low estimate, price for a moderate sized log cabin (supplies only), we'll say 10k. Then I have to pay for the usual necessities...ie. Kitchen, Bathrooms, Electrical house wiring, Septic tank, sump pump, light fixtures, windows, doors, permits, and misc supplies and so on. Won't I still be indebted to the Slave/Master mentality of the banks??? I just basically want to make sure I'm not trading apples for oranges and knowing that the fruits are falling from the same tree ( if that makes sense). I Damn sure dont want a 30yr fixed mortgage.... I see how my own mother has gotten screwed. She bought when the market was real good for the time, now she's losing/not making "any" money on her current house. Just a little clarification would be nice, I dont need to know detailed secrets from the Masters, (Yet) that is.

[rreidnauer]

Hey Thomas,

There is such a broad band to acquiring your goals, and so much depends on what you're willing to do or sacrifice to meet that goal. Nowhere is it said it's easy to do. Take Chad Fortman for example. He's sacrificed greatly, by living in a garden shack and having a YMCA membership just so he has a place to shower!!!! Now, I'm not saying everyone needs to go to that extreme, but it shows that one's mentality will have to change if you really wish to succeed at achieving your debt free home. OK, so you wish to buy land in Linden. Great! I'd love to buy land in the Skykomish River valley, but it isn't going to happen if I want to get this done in an affordable manner. Therefore, I began looking for alternative places which would be similarly as nice, at a price which meets my budget. So far, that's meant looking for land 5 to 7+ hours away from where I am now. It is a sacrifice to avoid slavery. I've liquidated off pretty much everything I've had that wasn't essential, drive worn out cars, and rent a single room, to get as much cash in the pot, and spend as little of it as possible too. It is a sacrifice to avoid slavery. I have an old RV that I'll live in when I build. They're definitely not meant for full-timing, but it is a sacrifice to avoid slavery. I'm going to cut into my 401k to finance my build, but . . . . (you know what I'm going to say)

Basically, you need an open mind, a strong desire, and be ready to be light on your feet. Time will be your ultimate friend, for time will provide you with the most affordable opportunities. So, I recommend that you don't take any action until you've taken the course, and thoroughly researched this forum. (take notes on key points, it can be a bitch to try and keep all this info straight) I for one, can say that my thoughts and plans were definitely different after taking the class.

You will have to ask yourself some (crossroads of life?) difficult questions. What can you be happy with? What are you willing to do to get it? What are you willing to give up to get it? What do you have now that can help you get it? It's time to sit down and really take a serious look at yourself. It may even scare the chips out of you, but these are the brief sacrifices one can make to achieve their dreams.

OK, enough of me sounding like Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker!

[Dreamtoownahome]

I appreciate the insight..... It will take time to sink in, but I believe I see where your coming from.

Thanks, Thomas Miller

[rckclmbr428]

I am building just down the road from you in Roanoke, Va, and am going the opposite of recommended to some extent, I took the class last Nov. and by this nov. I am under roof already, I can assure you I am not building for $7500, but I will have somewhere between $30-40 dollars a square foot for the home I am building, and after this go around, there will be even more saving the next time, ( I am building to sale, and have learned ALOT on this first one) If you want brand new everything, with granite countertops, your going to pay for it, if you can spend a couple years finding deals on material and salvaging stuff from others, you can build for super cheap. I am planning on building and selling 3-4 before I start building mine, so hopefully I will be saving materials, and by the time I get ready to build, should be able to move in debt free.

[ChainsawGrandpa]

I found a piece of land after taking the class. Thanks to the wisdom, and information provided by Skip(others who sat in the same class may not have read between the
lines and made the same mental connections that I made) I was able to get a lot in a nice vacation area for $747. That covered the back asessments, forward asessments, perc. test, gas for the car to go to and from the property.

As I have said before, once-in-a-lifetime deals come-up every other day...if you can recoginize them. I have found more screamin' deals than I could have ever put to use, but then, my ear is ALWAYS to the ground. Just tonight I found more deals: I needed barrels for a friends shop. I would have prefered fiber barrels, but I did find poly barrels. About $20/ pair and a six hour round trip. I had also planned to get him something nice for letting me use his shop. Tonight I found two almost new fiber barrels in the perfect size. Of course they were free! I also bought him a $55 set of carbide blades...they were on closeout for about $8.95. I bought several blades. A set for me, a set for him, and several sets to sell at $25 each to offset the cost of our blades. Sincerity, at a discount.

I have mountains of top quality polystyrene, Poly-iso, fiberglass, and white foam board. My cost was just pennies on the dollar. But as I've said before; my ear is always to the ground.

I put a second on my house to get a larger piece of land, and sold the $747 lot. No, it didn't sell for anywhere near $747. I'm in the process of selling the house with a second mortgage. It's supposed to close in 2 1/2 weeks.

I have used my cash from the sale of the other property, and money from overtime at work to build the first building on the property; the guest house. The guest house is small (800') has nice amenities (barrel entry ceiling, radiant heat oak floors, coffered ceilings, hand made raised panel doors, etc.) and is getting close to being finished. The final price should come in well below $17,000. That's about $21/foot. Why $17,000? Because I was

1. Stupid
2. In a hurry.

I should never have spent more than $13,000 for the guest house. Just foolishness
on my part.

My place will have a FMV of about $1/2 million. I'll be into it (land, septic, house, garage, shop, summer kitchen, guest house, pink flamingos) for about $120,000. Why $120,000? Because I should build for less but probably won't. I'm also adding a wife to the house. That will get the price up to $120,000!!

There can be more than a few roads to your dream of affordable housing, and some methods are (were?) covered in the class. Maybe the best thing you will learn in the class is that; yes, this is a possible dream for Joe Average, and (here's the biggest thing you will get from the class) the ideas and examples in the class will click in your head and you will believe you can do it and your mind will start formulating ideas to make it happen in a practical manner. In truth the secret isn't the class. The secret is what you set your mind to. The class just aims you in the right direction, and tells you how, and tells you yes, you can!

-Rick

[chadfortman]

Look, listen and learn
A man who works with his hands is a laborer,
A man who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman,
A man who works with his hands, his head and his heart is an artist.
St Francis of Assisi.

Thomas that place is over priced and that where i looked first.
So i bought out in Luray a few years back for 11.5 compare to hills for 35k there that would been even worse then where i am at now.
Apple mountain is were my sister had here place there where a cluster of homes and Blue Mountain is not much different there.
If you want drill 500 to 700 feet in the mountains for water and be broke buy there.
If you got any qwestions send me a email at chad_fortman2001@yahoo.com
I tell you go further out then front Royal i been all over the place looking and thats a way way over priced speed trap town.
I was in Orange county and warrenton and others.
Dont be afraid to ask me anything about us. I been spreading the truth for years.

[Basil]

I found that part of the class was really just learning to assess "needs vs wants" in my life. I would never have really considered putting my family in a house trailer five years ago. After taking the class we moved into a trailer on our land, built our house, and are extremely happy with our decisions. It's all about sacrifice and what you are willing to make now.